Soap Lake Eagles football focus on skill building

SOAP LAKE - Looking to build on last season's disappointing 2-8 record Soap Lake is getting back to the basics, focusing on fundamentals and limiting mistakes.

Coach Joe Worsham has had to get creative with how he organized his squad this year due to the sheer size of his team both in numbers and stature. "Getting kids to turnout has been a challenge.

There has been years where there is less than 20 guys out for the team, so having a team this size with guys who are really committed is great," Team Captain senior running back David Odarchuk said.

With a team that has barely enough players to run 8 on 8 scrimmages with a few substitutions, it is a difficult task for a coach to develop guys at specific positions.

"For example Joe Cutshall, started on the offensive line for the first few games last season and now is doing really well as our starting quarterback and leading the team," Worsham said.

As the team ran through drills at practice the challenges of a small team were evident.

While the Eagles were deep at most skill positions, almost every lineman was lining up for every single play, because there was no one to back him up or give him a breather.

"We are really short on lineman this year. We are going to have to recruit some guys who are playing RB now, our deepest position, to help us out on the line. So we are going to have a lot of moving parts. Between now and our first game we need to develop some guys who can play on the line," Worsham said.

Last year's record might not genuinely reflect the team's skill level, as four of the team's eight losses were by one score or less. The Eagles are the 33rd ranked 1B team in the state going in to their 2013 campaign and they are hoping to climb up those rankings as the weeks progress.

"Last year we got down early in a lot of games and had to battle back and we would end up playing well, but losing those close games. This year we want to come out and start strong to turn some of those losses into wins." Captain senior running back Dustin Foster said.

Soap Lake opens the season at Republic on Friday night followed by their first home game next Friday Sept. 13 against Washtucna.

The Eagles won't have to wait long to show their improvements as last year's game against Republic was one of those close games that seemed to slip away, resulting in a 64-56 loss.

"This is it. This is the last year for us captains and we are determined to accomplish our goals and have a good season." Foster said.

Although the Eagles are a smaller team, they embrace the challenges that come with the territory, as most starters play both sides of the ball.

"I play offense, defense, and special teams. I barely came off the field at all last season and I plan on doing the same this year," Odarchuk said.

Looking around the Soap Lake scrimmage it is clear they don't have the overpowering size of an Othello or Prosser, but what they lack in physical size they make up for with drive and determination.

After Worsham concluded practice and most players had hit the showers underclassman quarterback Cutshall was still throwing post routes to receivers down the field and running backs Foster and Odarchuk were discussing the offense and Friday's big game against Republic.

"I'm excited about our prospects and the group we have this year. I really think we are gonna surprise some people," Worshmam said.